IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2189, 13 May 1908, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. CATHOLICS CONDEMNED. United Press Association—Copyright LONDON, May 11. Friendly societies ask Mr. Asquith, in awarding pensions, not to take into account the income received from friendly societies or trade unions. Opponents of the scheme declare that if a ten' shillings limit is ignored for one form of thrift, it must be ignored for others, like amounts in savings banks. Tlie Executive of tlie United Irish League has issued a manifesto condemning Catholics who support Unionist candidates in tho interests of Catholic schools, thereby abandoning the cause of Ireland. *

THE HOP INDUSTRY. DEMANDS ATTENTION-. United Press Association—Copyright. (Received May 12, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. The House of -Lords adopted 'Baron Addington's motion that the critical condition of the Kentish hop industry deserved the Gover-nimeiit’s immediate attention. Lord Canterbury, was aghast at tlio condition o-f the villages. . Earl Carrington admitted that tflio situation was very serious and tlio Government deeply sympathised, but it was unable to entertain a duty -oil foreign hops. - . Baron Harris insisted that tlie bop industry must be mimed unless the Government intervened.' Lord Lansdoiwne agreed that it was desirable to await the report of the Hop Committee, but insisted that foreign competition was the main cause of -the trouble.